On September 20, a metropolitan magistrate court in Borivali, Mumbai, ordered police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against several individuals, including prominent business tycoon Nusli Wadia and his family members, on charges of alleged cheating and forgery.
The case stems from a long-running commercial dispute over a 30-year-old development agreement between Wadia and Ferani Hotels. Under the original agreement for a plot in Malad, Ferani Hotels was to develop the land and pay the Wadia group 12% of the gross sales. Disputes arose in 2008, leading to a series of legal battles that have made their way through various courts, including the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.
According to the FIR, Mahendra Chande, the CEO of Ferani Hotels, alleges that the accused forged documents and submitted them to the Bombay High Court in 2010. Chande had previously filed complaints with police in March, but an FIR was only registered after the court’s recent order.
The case was registered under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaced the Indian Penal Code, and includes sections for:
- Cheating
- Forgery
- Possession of a forged document
- Criminal conspiracy
- House-trespass or house-breaking
A police officer from the Bangur Nagar station stated that they are still verifying the complaint and reviewing the “bulky documents” involved in the case before they can comment further. Ness Wadia, Nusli’s son, could not be reached for comment.
